Method of heating



June 24, 1924 1,498,857

. W. H. SCHOONMAKER METHOD OF HEATING Original Filed March 5, 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Qvwemboz W. H. SCHOONMAKER wm'rnon or HEATING Original Filed March 5, 1917 2 sheets-5mm. 2

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ori ina application and liarch a, 1917,

To all whom it may comem:

Be it known that I, Wm H.' SCHOON-= 1 a citizen of the United States, residat Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Heating, of which the following is a specification.

' This application is a division of my apv partial vacuum-in the return'line' below a predeterminedlvaluefand 'the shutting off adjustmentof such-boiler dampers to' cause plication of suction or partial vacuum to the eating coils orradiators of thesystem, upon the adjustmentof the boiler damper or dampers to cause increased combustion or upon the decreasejof temperature or of the 16isuchsucti rP Vacuum the decreased combustion, or upon. the rise of j ment-of'ai vacuum int in upon f ct onthe establishment of a 'tem line of the temperature. or firtial vacuum to above ,a certain degree; fy inventionfurther comp a method whereby the action of the suction apparatus is stop ed .upon establishredetermined degree of partial he heati zfisystem, and is started at partial vacuum be" low a petermined and my inven-v ticn further comprises means whereby upp edetermined the return or air-withdrawal system "the, operation of such suction apparatus is stopped, and isstarted again upon the fallto a predetermined degree' of the teml ir'ature in said return ,or air-withdrawalv e.- By so applying suetion to, or creating a partial vacuum 1n, the

perature said return or air-withdrawal line, the tem perature at which the water in the boiler evaporates is greatly lowered, and thereby the e req m2 to fill the heating coils or memes Serial no, 152,198. 'mvia'eaand this' application fled Dctober s, 1921. serial no. 505,491.

radiatorswith is greatlyreduced 'My invention further comprises-means whereby:

in.the event of water being drawn up bysuction into-the return line of, the heating system to some predetermined point, a connection will be openedfautomatically between the supply line and return line, alancing pressures, and causing the water drawn up to return .to the boiler.

The objects of my iirtentionare, to render 1 steam heating'systems and 'vapor heating stems moretquickly onsive; to cause e heating coils of the "ator or radiators 3 of the system to b'BlfillBd with steam mo'iej quickly, upon the; of the furnace damper on dampers 'ior increased combus-.-

tion, more particularly when the boiler has not been suppl to the heating.

coils for a conslderable'klength of time (as for example the night'when the-:boil;

er has been shut off, i. e., the drafts have i been set so that theiboiler has not generated and generally to accomplish the above 0 jects while retaining simplicity of apparatus and without material addition to expenseot aratus.

tems have been employ pressure,.a partial vacuum islmai'ntained, for

,7 steam); to obtain increased fuel economy); a

a considerable time at lea'st,in' the hting coils or radiators, and in the boiler; but

:these systems, so' far as I am aware, have commonl required that not provide folautomatic establishment of a partial vacuum in the heating. attlie time when that partial vacuum is'm'ost Stan first be generate at or above atmospheric. pressure,

bofi the timelwhen'theidraftsof e-furace are opened in the mornmg' "a-partill vacu be applied to the lies co' radiato s of he steam a be similar much her than 1;;

ilscrf wise, and the heating coils or radiators will be filled with steam much sooner than otherwise. This is accomplished by the method and means hereinafter described.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment of an apparatus employed in carrying out the present method, and will then point out the novel features in the appended claims. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows, more or less diagrammatically, an elevation of a heating system embodying my invention, installed in a house, the walls and floors'of which house are shown in section; Figure 2 shows a central vertical section of an automatic air valve forming a portion of my heating system; Figure 3 shows a central vertical section of a diaphragm-operated valve forming a portion of the control mechanism of an exhauster employed in my said system; Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing the application of my invention to a .so-called single pipe heating system; Figure 5 shows, more or less diagrammatically, an elevation of the said automatic air valve, together with means operated by that air valve for operating a control valve of the said exhauster, such control valve being shown in vertical section; Figure 6 shows a fragmentary vertical section of a floatoperated valve employed in my system; and Figure 7 shows a central vertical section of a check valve which may be employed in the single pipe system shown in Figure 4.

Numeral 1 designates an ordinary heating boiler; 2 a steam supply pipe extending therefrom to the radiators or heating coils 3; and 4 designates the return line from the radiators to the boiler. 5 designates the ordinary draft damper of the boiler and 6 the ordinary check damper in the connection to the smoke pipe 7 these dampers be= ing arranged to be operated automatically by the usual regulating lever 8 itself operated by the usual diaphragm 9, the dampers 5 and 6 being connected to lever 8 by the usual flexible connection 10 and 11.

12 designates a valve casing shown in detail in Figure 2.

13 designates a suction producing appara tus, the particular type of apparatus shown being a water-jet exhauster, of well known construction; though the particular construction of suction apparatus employed is immaterial, in a broad sense. I have shown this suction producing device as provided, in its water supply line, with a valve 14 connected to the regulating lever 8 of the boiler by a connection 15, in such manner-that as the damper 5 is opened and the damper 6 closed, the valve 14 will be opened, so starting the suction producing device 13 in operation; and as said damper 5 isclosed and damper 6 opened, valve 14 will be closed, so stopping the action of the suction producing device 13. 4

In the water supply line to the exhausting apparatus 13 there is also another valve 16 (see Figure 3) illustrated as of the diaphragm-operated type, and arranged to another link '21 itself connected to a check valve 22. Valve casing 12 is interposed in the steam return line 4; and beyond the check valve 22 said valve casing 12 is connected by a pipe .23 to the exhauster 13. Furthermore, link 20 is connected to link 21 by a spring-slip-connection 24, which serves to prevent destruction of check valve 22 after valve 22 has seated, in case member 17 expands still further, and serves to permit the valve 22 to remain closed upon contraction of member 17 The construction is such that, when there is steam in return pipe 4%, such steam will fill the valve casing 12, the varying temperatures of such steam causing varying expansion of the member 17, which expansion is communicated, through lever 19 and links 20 and 21, to valve 22. Should return line 4 be cold, valve 22 will be open. When the steam in the return line reaches some predetermined temperature, the corre- Sponding expansion of member 17 will close check valve 22. The valve casing 12 serves, it will be seen, as a 'suction connection between the exhauster 13 and the return line 4.

It may be understood that the regulating lever 8 of the furnace is arranged to be operated by any of the well known devices, (for example, a, so-called time-controlled thermostat 25 electrically controlling a damper-operating motor 26) for holding the air draft 5 of the furnace closed and the check valve 6 of the furnace 'open, during the night, and for opening the air damper 5, and closing the check damper 6, in the morning. Such opening of the air damper and closing of the check damper will be accompanied by a downward motion of the right hand end of lever 8 which will open the valve 14, starting operation of the exhauster 13 and producing a partial vacuum in the heating system, which will insure the filling of that system with steam long before boiling point at atmospheric pressure has been reached in the boiler. When Y a shield 27, covering the expansible memeases? the temperature in the return line 4 has reached some predetermined value, the expansion of member 17 ,will close-valve 22; and almostimmediately thereafter valve 16 will close, shutt' oilthe exhauster 13;- for with valve 22 c osed the partial vacuum be ond' such valve will quickly reach the value at which the diaphragm actuatmg device of valve 16 is set to close that valve.

Preferably, within the valve casing 12 her 17, is provided to prevent jdirectrimpact of steam or hot water formed by condensation of the steam upon the member 17. It is intended that this member shall act by expansion due to heat of steam diffused through the valve casing 12, rather than by heat due to impact of steam or hot the radiators.

derived from waterdirectly on member 17. Check valve 22 will close if not already closed when some predeterminedsuflicient degree of partial vacuum has been reached in return pipe 4, whether -or not the member 17 has expanded to an extent suflicient to close valve 22; the slip connection 24 perm1tt1ng the closing of said valve 22 by partial vacuum It will be seen that, in the event of lowering of temperature of the fluid returned through pipe 4, below a predetermined degree, expansible member 17 will open valve 22. It will be seen that by this apparatus the radiators 3 are-maintamednnder some suction throughout the day, unless the temperature-of the return steam or water hecomes so hi h as to close valve 22, in which event there 15 'no need for partial vacuum in;

While valve 16, operated by suction, provides a means whereby the operation of the exhauster 13 will be stopped when valve 22' is closed, either by, expansion of vmember 17 or by establishment of a predetermined degree of suction in the'return line 4, still ed to ha pened and 010 it is desirable that means he provided for the stopping of the o eration of the ex.- hauster 13 as a result 0 expansion of member 17 to some predetermined degree, inde-- pendent of the closing of valve 22, and operation of valve 16. Therefore I have provided mechanical means whereby expan'-" sion of member-'17 causes the stoppage of and lowering of its stem 30. On the pivot shaft 31 of lever 19 (Figure 2) there is an arm 33 having at its end a slot in which works a pin carried by a pivoted arm 34; the other end of this arm 34 working between st'o'ps 35 and 36 of valve stem 30.

A compression spring 37 is arranged to tend to hold arm 33 either in the position shown or 'ina reverse position, i. e said spring tends to hold valve 29 either wide open or: fully closed. It will be apparent that when member 17, within the valve casing 12, ex-

pands suficiently, arm 33 will have raised arm 34-suficiently to cause spring :37 to 9 unless there be in return line'4 such a pre 7 determined degree of suctien that the operation of ,the exhauster is not' required. Whether valve 14 will be opened or not when valve 29 is so opened, will depend upon the position ofv the damper 5. If damper 5 be closed (for example it may be held closed at the time by the action of the thermostat motor 26) then valve 14 will not be open and. exhauster 13 will not operate.

In some conditions it might happen that, through the occurrence of a partial vacuum in the return line 4twater might be' drawn upinto that return line, to a point considerablyv above the water level inthe boiler; and this might lead to very undesirable 0011- ditions. To obviate this, 1 rovide, in the return line 4, a float cham r 38, located above the normal water level of the boiler,

but below the valve casing 12; and within this float chamber there is a float 39 minnected by a rod 40to a valve 41 w port 42 adapted, when the float is raised, to

place in communication with each other pipe lines 43 and 44 leading res the return line 4 (at-a point'we valve casing 12,) and tozthe supply line 2. It will be seen that water rising in return line 4 to an extent suflicient to partly fill tively to the operation of the exhauster; In 'this'way 'float chamber 38 rand 'to raise the float unnecessary intermittent starting'and stopping of the operation of the exhauster 13, y valve 16, ;due .to variation of partial vacuum behind the valve 22 when that valve is closed, is avoided. s'

This mechanical means for controlling the operation of the exhauster 13 by expan-' sible member 17, is shown articularly in Figure 5. In the water supply line 28 leadmg tothe exhauster tliere is a valve casing within which is, arranged a valve 29 adaptr-by the raising of pressures (in this case negative pres above the i sures) in the two sides 2 and 4 of the heats ing system; whereupon the water which has risen. in the return line'l4 will drop again to normal water level I As illustrated in Figure 4 in the case of a one pipe system, a return g 4'-1n'ay be connected to the ordinary air valves 30 at the radiators '3Qand may lead to the valve casing 12,"whieh that event as a supplemental air valve for the entire system, besides serving to regulate the application of vacuum to the radiators and besides serving as means, in connection with the" pipe 4, for returning any drip from the air valves to the boiler.

lln speaking of partial vacuums, or pressures below atmospheric, it is common to speak of the partial vacuum being increased when the absolute pressure is lowered, and to speak of the partial vacuum as having decreased when the absolute pressure has risen. lit is in this sense that T'have mentioned increase and decrease of suction or partial vacuum in the above description.

What ll claim is:

1. The herein described method of hasten- I ing the heating action of steam heating systems having a distributing conduit and a boller for supplying steam thereto, saidboilerhaving a damper regulating the action thereof, which comprises automatically applying suction to the distributing conduit and through the conduit to the boiler, upon 7 change of adjustment of the damper of the boiler in a sense to cause increase of the heating action of the boiler.

2. The herein described method of regulating the heating action of a steam heating system having a distributing conduit and a boiler for supplying steam thereto, said boiler having a regulating damper, which comprises automatically applying suction to the distributing conduit upon change of adjustment of said damperof the boiler in a sense to cause increase of the heating action of the boiler, and automatically ceasing the application of such suction upon change of adjustment of said boiler damper in a sense to cause reduction of the heating action of the boiler.

3. The herein described method of regulating the heating action of a steam heating system having a distributing conduit and a boiler for supplying steam thereto, said boiler having a regulating damper, which comprises automatically applying suction to the distributing conduit uppn change,

of adjustment of said damper of the boiler in a sense to cause increase of the heating action of the boiler, and automatically'ceasing the application of-such suction upon establishment of a predetermined degree of partial vacuum in the distributing conduit.

4. The herein described method of regulating the heating action of a steam heating system having a distributing conduit and a essee? boiler for supplying steam thereto and itself having a regulating damper, which comprises applying suction to such distributing conduit upon change of adjustment of said damper of the boiler in a sense to cause increase of the heating action of the boiler, and ceasing the application of such suction upon establishment of a predetermined temperature in the suction end of said distributing conduit. I

5. The hereindescribed method of hastening the heating action of steam heating systems having a distributing conduit and a boiler for supplying steam thereto, said boiler having a damper regulating the action thereof, which consists in automatically producing a reduction in pressure in the distributing system simultaneously with the opening of the combustion draft damper of the boiler.

6. The herein described methodof hastening the heating action of steam heating systems having a distributing conduit and a boiler for supplying steam thereto, said boiler having a damper regulating the action thereof, which consists in automatically applying suction to .a portion of the dis- .tributing conduit to promote circulation therethrough simultaneously with the opening of the boiler damper.

7. The herein described method at hastening the heating action of steam heating systems having a distributing conduit and a boiler for supplying steam thereto, said boiler having a damper regulating the action thereof, yvhich consists in automatically producing a reduction in pressure in the distributing conduit simultaneously with the opening of the damper of the boiler.

8. Theherein described method of hastening the heating action of steam heating systems which consists in automatically producin a reduction in pressure in the distributlng conduit simultaneously with an increase in the heating action within the boiler.

9. The herein described method of hastening the heating action of steam heating systems which consists in automatically producing-a reduction in pressure in the distributing conduit simultaneously with an increase in the heating action within the boiler, and ceasing the reduction in ressure upon establishment of a predetermined tempera ture in the distributing conduit.

lin testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. sonoonnnnnn. 

